• OTSG Glossary

    Terms and abbreviations used this site are outlined below. If you find a mistake, spelling or otherwise, please notify me and I will make the necessary corrections.

    Tags

    SMS – Stem Mounted Shifters

    DTS – Down Tube Shifters

    BES – Bar End Shifters

    BOS – Bottomed Out Seat (Referring to the seat height chosen by most OTS owners.)

    OTS – Old Ten Speed

    FRF – Front & Rear Fenders

    CPB – Center Pull Brakes

    SMR – Spoke-Mounted Reflectors

    HTFC – Half-The-Fun-Conversion (Referring to a 10-speed converted to a 5-speed by removing the front derailer. Could also refer to a ten-speed with FNC drops.)

    FNC – Flopped-N-Clopped

    Pie Plate – Large metal or plastic disc found on the rear wheel of most OTS from the 1970s and 1980s

    Prefix-Op – A term I use to refer to OTSs in their original or semi-original condition before the owner decides to sacrifice their Ten-speeded-lamb-of-cycling-frugality-and-sensibility for the fleeting thrill of a Quasi-Fixie-Conversion.

    QFC – Quasi Fixie Conversion

    UJBBTS – Universal Japanese Bike Boom Ten Speed (Thanks Harv)

    OTSOTM – Old Ten Speed Of The Month

    OIOTS – Obscure International Old Ten Speed

    SDGCS – Super Deluxe Gel Comfort Saddle

    MSDGCS – Moderately Super Deluxe Gel Comfort Saddle

    Schwead – Schwinn Super Fan

    Notthead – Raleigh Super Fan

    Coluhuffrray – Columbia, Huffy, Murray, etc.

    Cotter – Regular reader/submitter/commenter of the OTSG

    Schwinge – A Schwinn Binge.

    Courtesy of Michael R

    UMOTS – Unfortunately Modified Old Ten Speed

    Courtesy of Curt N.

    SOOTS – simply outstanding old ten speed

    SLOTS – slightly lacking old ten speed (no wheel reflectors, seat not bottomed out, etc, etc)

    FOOTS – freakin’ outrageous old ten speed

    FROOTS – found, recovered, overhauled old ten speed

    ROTS – rusty old ten speed

    SOTS – shiny old ten speed

    BOTS – beautiful old ten speed

    Some little known 10-speed related organizations. Courtesy of Michael R.

    CS&CPPPMC – Chromed Steel & Clear Plastic Pie Plate Manufacturers Consortium

    IBSMSLW – International Brotherhood of Stem Mounted Shift Lever Workers

    SA&RSMRA – Society of Amber & Red Spoke Mounted Reflectors Association

    FSEO – Friction Shift Educational Organization

    LSFMSO – Lugged Steel Frame Manufacturers Service Organization

    OVTSA – Office of Vintage Ten Speed Affiliates